The indie studio PixelFoundry, recently formed by a pair of developers from EA Tiburon (the Madden NFL studio), has launched a Kickstarter campaign for their debut title Blackspace: something of an RTS with heavy tower defence elements, with heavy use of real-time physics and terrain destruction.

Blackspace is a defensive action / strategy game that takes place in the not too distant future, when asteroid mining has become common. Piloting a mining craft around a unique series of asteroids, you will be establishing mining operations while defending yourself from incoming enemies who loot and destroy.

The key features in this game are a destructible spherical play surface, direct control of the environment and extensive use of physics to make the experience more organic and non-formulaic. Upgrade and modify your ship and your operations to suit your play style.

The developers explain the game in detail, with a healthy amount of prototype gameplay footage that offers a comprehensive overview of its key play mechanics.

Blackspace is aiming for a US$350,00 funding goal, currently promising a PC release to start with (with Oculus Rift support), and hoping for Mac, Linux, and consoles if successful. Watch the pitch video below and head over to the Kickstarter page if this sounds like something you could get behind.

Looks like a really cool idea, the realistic physics and visuals really appeal to me... however I think they should keep the 'realism' theme going in all areas of the game. ie. Buildings dont just 'puff' into existence, a construction kit should shoot down from orbit, then it needs to assemble itself (C&C style).

Also, being able to mold the ground seems weird, more like a developer or god-mode tool, there should be bulldozers or something to do that.